CBI arrests Proclaimed Offender absconding for 23 years

New Delhi, Aug 21 (AHN) The CBI on Friday arrested a Proclaimed Offender (PO) who had absconded for nearly 23 years in connection with a case involving the criminal misappropriation of goods worth Rs 9 lakh from trucks carrying them to customers.

Roop Singh was arrested on Friday after sustained efforts by the probe agency, according to a statement issued by the CBI.

Earlier, co-accused Arjun Singh was arrested on November 7, 2025, after remaining absconding for nearly 22 years.

The CBI case originated from Case No. 178/1998 dated October 4, 998, registered at Amalner Police Station, Maharashtra, regarding the alleged theft and misappropriation of goods, including ghee and mung, loaded in two trucks.

It was alleged that on September 27, 1998, two truck drivers, Babu Khan and Aslam Khan, stole and misappropriated the goods.

The High Court of Judicature of Bombay at Aurangabad, vide its order dated February 25, 2002, in Criminal Writ Petition No. 547/2000 dated November 27, 2000, directed the transfer of the investigation of the instant case to the CBI.

Accordingly, the CBI re-registered the case on April 5, 2002, as RC-4(S)/2002-CBI, SCB, Mumbai, against Babu Khan, Aslam Khan and others.

After the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet on December 19, 2003, before the Court of the JMFC, Amalner, against Roop Singh, Arjun Singh, Babu Khan and Aslam Khan for offences relating to criminal misappropriation, conspiracy and abetment, the CBI said.

The CBI said the investigation revealed that Roop Singh and Arjun Singh, in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy with the two truck drivers, criminally misappropriated goods intended for delivery to another party.

During the course of trial, accused Roop Singh and Arjun Singh were released on bail and subsequently absconded. They were declared Proclaimed Offenders (POs) by the competent court on November 11, 2010. Accused Babu Khan and Aslam Khan had been absconding since the case began.